Ice Chips: Sens send down Merilainen; Ullmark return appears close
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The Senators have reassigned goaltender Leevi Merilainen to the AHL's Belleville Senators, indicating Linus Ullmark could be ready to make his return.
Ullmark has been sidelined since Oct. 12, missing four games, with head coach Travis Green revealing last week that he was dealing with a "strain."
The goaltender was initially expected to return late last week, but has remained sidelined. According to TSN's Claire Hanna, Ullmark said Tuesday that he was feeling good but wanted to get a couple of full speed practices in before returning to build back up to game speed.
Anton Forsberg has been handling goaltender duties since, posting a 2.94 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
Merilainen has appeared in three AHL games this season, recording a 3.47 GAA and .852 save percentage.
Ullmark is 1-1-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .914 save percentage through two games this season before sustaining the injury.
The Sens also recalled forward Cole Reinhardt from Belleville on Friday. Forward Shane Pinto did not skate Thursday and will be a game-time decision Friday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, reports TSN's Claire Hanna.
Pinto has one goal and two assists in six games so far this season, playing over 17 minutes in Ottawa 4-0 win over Utah on Tuesday.
Buffalo Sabres
Forward Zach Benson is not practising with the Sabres Friday morning as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury, reports Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News.
Benson missed Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars and has been battling the injury since the start of the season.
The 19-year-old does not have a point in the six games he's played in this year while averaging 14:10 of ice time per game.
The Panthers have signed forward Hunter St. Martin to a three-year, entry-level contract, it was announced Friday.
St. Martin, 19, was selected in the sixth round of this summer's draft (No. 193 overall), posting seven goals and one assists through his first eight games of the season with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets centre Dmitri Voronkov practised with the team Friday as he continues to make his way back from an upper-body ailment, reports Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch.
General Manager Don Waddell said earlier this month the team expected Voronkov back by the end of November.
The 24-year-old had yet to make his season debut. He had 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 75 games last season as a rookie.